THE EUCHARIST Ash Wednesday

Notes

This is a Common Worship service with seasonal material from “Times and Seasons”, authorised for experimental use.

When to use the Rite This service is intended for use on Ash Wednesday but where necessary it may be used up to the first Sunday in Lent. The silence during the Liturgy of Penitence is an integral part of the rite and should not be omitted or reduced to a mere pause.

Confession and Absolution Other forms of confession and absolution authorised by Canon may replace the forms used in this service. Ash THE The ash used for the Imposition of Ashes may be made from the burnt Palm Crosses of the previous year. Members of the congregation may be asked to EUCHARIST return the Palm Crosses to Church on the Sunday before Lent and the Palm Crosses could be burned as part of the activities of Shrove Tuesday. If necessary, other provision may be made. Holy Communion

Imposition of Ashes Common Worship The President may be assisted by others with the imposition of ashes, especially in larger congrega- Order One tions. The ashes may be imposed with the authorised words, in silence and or brief personal prayer may be offered.

Liturgical Colour for Lent Violet, and if possible, this should be different from the more imperial purple used for Advent. Lenten Array, which is unbleached linen, may also be used. Ash Wednesday Hangings and flowers should be removed from the worship area, though dry arrangements may be ap- propriate

Ash Wednesday Collect This collect may be preferred as an Opening Prayer or Post Communion, or may be used privately. Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Labarum Longbook Church to append label or rubber stamp. Design Inspiration from Christ Church Eastbourne Downloaded from www.oremus.org/labarum

Introduction to the Season The Dismissal

Responsory Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on

Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the This responsory may be used. forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. This is love, not that we loved God, All but that he loved us and sent his Son. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is He is the sacrifice for our sins, a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent All that we might live through him. originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a If God loves us so much preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful All we ought to love one another. rededicated themselves and when converts were If we love one another instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By All God lives in us. observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the Dismissal Gospel wilderness for forty days. Lent has been observed in the church since apostolic times. This Dismissal Gospel may be used.

In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Carnival, or Fasching) has according to Luke become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. In All Glory to you, O Lord. England we keep Pancake Tuesday. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during `Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and Lent. losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until Ashes are an ancient sign of penitence; from the he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his middle ages it became the custom to begin Lent by shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, being marked in ash with the sign of the cross. he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to Liturgical dress is the simplest possible. Churches are them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep kept bare of flowers and decoration. The Gloria in that was lost." Just so, I tell you, there will be more excelsis is not used. The fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over or Refreshment Sunday) was allowed as a day of relief ninety-nine righteous people who need no from the rigour of Lent, and the Feast of the repentance. Luke 15:4-7 Annunciation almost always falls in Lent; these intervals are the background to the modern This is the gospel of the Lord observance of Mothering Sunday. All Praise to you, O Christ.

As Holy Week approaches, the atmosphere of the season darkens; the readings begin to anticipate the Blessing story of Christ’s suffering and death, and the reading of the Passion Narrative gave to the Fifth Sunday its May God the Father, name of Passion Sunday. There are many devotional who does not despise the broken spirit, exercises which may be used in Lent and Holy Week give to you a contrite heart. outside the set liturgy. All Amen.

May Christ, who bore our sins in his body on the tree, heal you by his wounds. All Amen.

May the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, speak to you words of pardon and peace. All Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. All Amen.

Dismissal

Go in the joy and peace of Christ. All Thanks be to God.

2 11 Giving of Communion The Gathering

The president says this invitation to communion At the entry of the ministers a hymn is sung.

Jesus is the Lamb of God The Greeting who takes away the sin of the world. The president says Blessed are those who are called to his supper. In the name of the Father, All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed. and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The president may add these words. All Amen.

Draw near with faith. The president greets the people

[Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ Grace, mercy and peace which he gave for you, from God our Father and his blood which he shed for you. and the Lord Jesus Christ Eat and drink be with you in remembrance that he died for you, All And also with you. and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.] The president explains the meaning of Lent and invites the people to observe it faithfully. The president and people receive communion. Brothers and sisters in Christ: Baptized persons who are communicant members of other since early days Christians have observed with great Churches which subscribe to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, devotion the time of our Lord's passion and and are in good standing in their own Church may receive the Holy Communion. resurrection and prepared for this by a season of penitence and fasting.

Any person may come to the altar for a blessing. By carefully keeping these days, Christians take to Hold a book, or cross the palms of your hands across your chest heart the call to repentance and the assurance of for a blessing. forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel, and so grow in

faith and in devotion to our Lord. During the distribution hymns and anthems may be sung. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy word.

The Trisagion or another suitable penitential song may be used.

A minister says The Prayer after Communion Holy God, Silence is kept. holy and strong, holy and immortal, This post communion prayer or other suitable prayer is said. have mercy upon us.

Almighty God, And all repeat

you have given your only Son to be for us All Holy God, both a sacrifice for sin holy and strong, and also an example of godly life: holy and immortal, give us grace have mercy upon us. that we may always most thankfully receive these his inestimable gifts, The Collect and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; Let us pray for grace to keep Lent faithfully. through Jesus Christ our Lord. All Amen. Silence is kept.

All may say this prayer. Holy God, All God of our pilgrimage, our lives are laid open before you: you have fed us with the bread of heaven. rescue us from the chaos of sin Refresh and sustain us and through the death of your Son as we go forward on our journey, bring us healing and make us whole in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. All Amen.

A hymn may be sung. See back cover for an alternative collect.

10 3 The Liturgy of the Word The Lord’s Prayer Readings Either the contemporary or traditional form may be used.

One or two readings from Scripture precede the Gospel reading. At the end of each the reader may say As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

This is the word of the Lord. All Our Father in heaven, All Thanks be to God. hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, A hymn or psalm may follow the reading(s). your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Gospel Reading Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins Stand, and turn to face the gospeller. as we forgive those who sin against us. This acclamation may herald the gospel reading. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory. For the kingdom, the power, The Lord is a great God, and the glory are yours O that today you would listen to his voice. now and for ever. Harden not your hearts. Amen. All Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory. Or in the traditional form. When the Gospel is announced the reader says Let us pray with confidence Hear the Gospel as our Saviour has taught us of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N. All Glory to you, O Lord. All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; At the end the reader says thy kingdom come; This is the Gospel of the Lord. thy will be done; All Praise to you, O Christ. on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Sermon And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; Sit. Listen to the Word of God explained in the sermon. but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The president breaks the consecrated bread. The Liturgy of Penance Every time we eat this bread Self-Examination & Confession and drink this cup All We proclaim the Lord’s death All Kneel until he comes. A minister now leads a corporate examination of conscience. The Agnus Dei may be used as the bread is broken. Let us now call to mind our sin and the infinite mercy of God. All Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, God the Father, have mercy on us. All have mercy on us. God the Son, Lamb of God, All have mercy on us. you take away the sin of the world, God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. All have mercy on us Trinity of love, Lamb of God, All have mercy on us. you take away the sin of the world,

All Most merciful God, grant us peace. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed.

4 9 We have not loved you All Holy, holy, holy Lord, with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. God of power and might, We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. heaven and earth are full of your glory. We have not forgiven others, Hosanna in the highest. as we have been forgiven. Blessed is he who comes All Lord, have mercy. in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; We have not been true to the mind of Christ. grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, We have grieved your Holy Spirit. and according to your holy will, All Lord, have mercy. these gifts of bread and wine We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives, All Lord, have mercy. who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: and our exploitation of other people, All Lord, have mercy. Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves, In the same way, after supper All Lord, have mercy.

he took the cup and gave you thanks; Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, he gave it to them, saying: and our dishonesty in daily life and work, Drink this, all of you; All Lord, have mercy. this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many Our negligence in prayer and worship, for the forgiveness of sins. and our failure to commend the faith that is in us, Do this, as often as you drink it, All Lord, have mercy. in remembrance of me. Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: Christ is the Bread of Life: All When we eat this bread and drink this cup, For our blindness to human need and suffering, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty, until you come in glory. All Accept our repentance, Lord.

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, For all false judgments, his perfect sacrifice made once for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbours, for the sins of the whole world; and for our prejudice and contempt rejoicing in his mighty resurrection toward those who differ from us, All Accept our repentance, Lord. and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, For our waste and pollution of your creation, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. and our lack of concern for those who come after us, All Accept our repentance, Lord. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, Restore us, good Lord, we bring before you this bread and this cup and let your anger depart from us, and we thank you for counting us worthy All Favourably hear us, for your mercy is great.

to stand in your presence and serve you. Accomplish in us the work of your salvation, All That we may show your glory in the world. Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, all who share this one bread and one cup, All Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection. so that we, in the company of [N and] all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, Silence through Jesus Christ our Lord; After the silence a minister says

by whom, and with whom, and in whom, We have not loved you, Lord.

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, All We have not loved you with our whole heart. all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. for ever and ever. In your mercy forgive what we have been, All Amen. help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

8 5 If the people are to be marked with ash this should follow here, Preparation of the Table otherwise the service continues with an authorised absolution and Taking of the Bread and Wine the exchange of the Peace.

A hymn may be sung. The Imposition of Ashes The gifts of the people may be gathered and presented.

The Altar is prepared, and bread and wine are placed upon it. If the imposition of ashes is to follow, the president says The president takes the bread and wine, and may say. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: Dear friends in Christ, through your goodness I invite you to receive these ashes we have this bread to set before you, as a sign of the spirit of penitence which earth has given with which we shall keep this season of Lent. and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life. God our Father, All Blessed be God for ever. you create us from the dust of the earth: grant that these ashes may be for us Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: a sign of our penitence through your goodness and a symbol of our mortality; we have this wine to set before you, for it is by your grace alone fruit of the vine and work of human hands. that we receive eternal life It will become for us the cup of salvation. in Jesus Christ our Saviour. All Blessed be God for ever. All Amen. The president may add The president and people receive the imposition of ashes, the president first receiving the imposition from another minister. Merciful Father, At the imposition the minister says to each person turn us from sin to faithfulness

and from disobedience to love, Remember that you are dust, and prepare us to celebrate and to dust you shall return. the death and resurrection of Christ our Saviour Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Or the ashes may imposed without the use of words. All Amen During the imposition silence may be kept, or a hymn, anthem or psalm may be sung.

The president may say The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord enrich you with his grace, The president says and nourish you with his blessing; the Lord defend you in trouble The Lord be with you and keep you from all evil; All and also with you. the Lord accept your prayers, Lift up your hearts. and absolve you from your offences, All We lift them to the Lord. for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All Amen. All It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise, The Liturgy of the Sacrament almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. The Peace For in these forty days Stand. you lead us into the desert of repentance that through a pilgrimage of prayer and discipline The president introduces the Peace we may grow in grace using these or similar words: and learn to be your people once again.

Through fasting, prayer and acts of service Since we are justified by faith, you bring us back to your generous heart. we have peace with God Through study of your holy word through our Lord Jesus Christ, you open our eyes to your presence in the world who has given us access to his grace. and free our hands to welcome others The peace of the Lord be always with you into the radiant splendour of your love. All and also with you. As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feast with joyful hearts and minds Let us offer one another a sign of peace. we bless you for your mercy and join with saints and angels All may exchange a sign of peace. for ever praising you and saying:

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